According to a June 28, 2011, press release sent out by the US Attorney for the Central District of Louisiana, yet another city’s mayor has been snagged and bagged in a federal bribery and corruption scheme. This time it’s the mayor of Port Allen, Louisiana, population just under 5,100. It also identifies other city mayors and a chief of police who were already convicted or are awaiting trial for their part in the racketeering scheme.
The press release contains much information about how the FBI, HUD Inspector General, and the US Attorney’s office teamed up in an elaborate investigation captioned “Operation Blighted Officials.”
A PortSouth.com online article posted July 15, 2010, and titled 27-page indictments details alleged bribes by Deidre Cruse has more specifics about the indictments against White Castle mayor Maurice “Big Moe” Brown and his brother, White Castle police chief Mario D. Brown. As noted in the US Attorney’s press release cited previously, these folks were part of the catch in “Operation Blighted Officials.”
Finally, an online post dated July 7, 2010, by television station WBRZ out of Baton Rouge, LA, gives an indication of the kinds of actions leading to the charges against one mayor, Thomas A. Nelson, Jr. of New Roads, LA.
Notice that the indictments reveal that bribes can take the form of money “or other things of value.” That is a very large net.
But the FBI was not allowed into our community?
Comment by mary — July 3, 2011 @ 12:50 pm
Mary,
The letter from FBI Assistant Director (Criminal Investigative Division) Kevin Perkins said, “After consulting with the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office, it has been determined that the United States Attorney’s Office has recommended that the Idaho state prosecutor continue to handle this investigation, and that FBI involvement was not appropriate at this time.” AD Perkins letter was in response to an inquiry from Rep. Labrador asking why the FBI had backed away from the request made by County Clerk Cliff Hayes for technical assistance from an FBI Special Agent/Forensic Accountant in the Martinson investigation. My understanding is that both the local FBI office and its parent office, the Salt Lake City Field Office, had originally approved the request.
The type of assistance requested is consistent with what federal agencies routinely offer to local agencies. One might speculate that the US Attorney for the District of Idaho, Wendy Jo Olson, came under some political pressure to squelch FBI assistance.
Comment by Bill — July 3, 2011 @ 2:34 pm
Why would she squelch FBI assistance? Was there too much to find? Would one thing have lead to another?
Comment by mary — July 3, 2011 @ 7:46 pm
So, what specifically is being done by the “Idaho state prosecutor”?
Comment by Gary Ingram — July 3, 2011 @ 9:08 pm
Mary and Gary,
I don’t know other than what was in the letter. But given that federal law enforcement agencies often provide technical assistance and expert court testimony to local agencies without hijacking the local agencies’ cases, it was unusual to have the US Attorney’s Office step in and overrule the FBI’s willingness to respond to a reasonable request from a public official. It certainly leads to understandable speculation that someone didn’t want the FBI involved. It alarmed me when I was told that the request to the FBI for technical assistance came from Cliff Hayes and not from Police Chief Wayne Longo or Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh. In his statutory role as Kootenai County Auditor, it was perfectly appropriate for Hayes to request FBI assistance in examining the financial records of all those county departments for which he has responsibility to ensure the records are being properly kept and funds accurately accounted.
Martinson had been English’s deputy in charge of audits, so Hayes’ desire to have an independent outside entity with no ties to county agencies or employees do the examination was wise and prudent. He had to consider the possibility that other county employees or elected officials could have been implicated in this or other crimes. Longo should have had the same concern. Asking the FBI for assistance is different from McHugh’s general political butt-saving buck-passing in that the request from Hayes could have been to detect and preserve evidence of crime, not just avoid the appearance of bias. But it appears someone had the horsepower to go to the US Attorney and order her to tell the FBI to back off. In my opinion, that in itself completely vindicates and validates Hayes’ decision to ask for FBI assistance. It certainly leaves the appearance that someone was afraid information might be uncovered that would embarrass if not implicate other county employees and elected officials.
Gary, Martinson has apparently been charged with one count of grand theft. Potentially, each felony-value check within the statute of limitations could have been charged separately. Also, each unauthorized use of English’s signature rubber stamp was potentially a forgery count since it was allegedly used to utter a forged check. If, however, the investigation by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department was so badly bungled that the prosecutor could only ethically file one grand theft count, then the blame for failure would rest with the police and not the prosecutor. Martinson has pled “not guilty” to that one felony count. She is scheduled for a three-day jury trial beginning August 23rd. Stay tuned.
Comment by Bill — July 4, 2011 @ 7:14 am
“…it appears someone had the horsepower to go to the US Attorney and order her to tell the FBI to back off…”
Yes, Bill, that’s what concerns me too. Who around here would have such connections? The FBI had already agreed to start the investigation, but then the US Attorney tells them to stand down? Those are high-level strings that were pulled.
Comment by mary — July 4, 2011 @ 8:22 am
Mary,
“The FBI had already agreed to start the investigation…”
Not exactly. The FBI had reportedly agreed to provide a Special Agent/Forensic Accountant to assist in the ongoing investigation. The distinction between opening its own investigation and simply assisting in an ongoing local investigation is important. However, if it had uncovered relevant federal violations during its assistance, then it could have opened its own investigation.
Comment by Bill — July 4, 2011 @ 8:30 am
The August 23 trial will determine not only her guilt or innocence, but also how well the evidence is presented. If it is weak or suspect in any aspect, then the interference by the U.S Attorney will become a central point demanding answers.
Comment by Gary Ingram — July 4, 2011 @ 8:45 pm